Sometimes Weekly Price Guides: Motherboards and Video Cards

While the AMD scene might be slightly confusing right now, the Intel side of things appears to be clearly the opposite. Intel’s i865PE chipset was an amazing success, and if you need proof just check out Evan’s 20-way i865PE/i875P roundup. We were very pleased to see that the lower cost i865PE boards actually outperformed many of the i875P solutions.

Product	Vendor	Price	Shipping	Total
Motherboard Intel
845E Abit IT7 MAX2	GameVE	135.00	0.00	135.00	Check Prices
845E ASUS P4B533-E	Googlegear	102.99	0.00	102.99	Check Prices
845E Tyan S2099GNNR	Googlegear	171.00	0.00	171.00	Check Prices
845G Abit BG7	GameVE	102.00	6.75	108.75	Check Prices
845PE ABIT BH7	GameVE	73.00	6.75	79.75	Check Prices
845PE Albatron PX845PEV Pro	GameVE	77.00	0.00	77.00	Check Prices
845PE ASUS P4PE	Googlegear	103.99	0.00	103.99	Check Prices
845PE Gigabyte 8PE667	GameVE	143.00	6.75	149.75	Check Prices
845PE Gigabyte GA-8PE800	Googlegear	85.95	0.00	85.95	Check Prices
845PE Gigabyte GA-8PE800 Ultra	Googlegear	142.95	0.00	142.95	Check Prices
845PE Intel D845PEBT2	Spartan Technologies	105.00	7.95	112.95	Check Prices
845PE MSI MAX2-FIR	GameVE	146.00	0.00	146.00	Check Prices
850E ASUS P4T533	Googlegear	151.50	0.00	151.50	Check Prices
850E Gigabyte GA-81HXP	Googlegear	159.99	0.00	159.99	Check Prices
850E MSI MAX	GameVE	125.00	6.75	131.75	Check Prices
865PE Abit IS7	Googlegear	108.95	0.00	108.95	Check Prices
865PE Albatron Px865PE Pro	NewEgg	106.00	5.00	111.00	Check Prices
865PE ASUS P4P800 Deluxe	Googlegear	144.99	0.00	144.99	Check Prices
865PE MSI Neo2-FIS2R	Googlegear	162.00	0.00	162.00	Check Prices
875P ABIT IC7	Googlegear	134.50	0.00	134.50	Check Prices
875P ASUS P4C800 Deluxe	NuTrend	184.00	0.00	184.00	Check Prices
875P DFI LanParty Pro 875	Googlegear	199.99	0.00	199.99	Check Prices
875P Gigabyte GA-8KNXP	Googlegear	225.00	0.00	225.00	Check Prices
875P Gigabyte GA-8KNXP Ultra	NewEgg	382.00	0.00	382.00	Check Prices
875P MSI NEO-FIS2R	Spartan Technologies	167.00	7.95	174.95	Check Prices
E7205 ASUS P4G8X Deluxe	NewEgg	159.99	0.00	159.99	Check Prices
E7205 Gigabyte 8INXP	NewEgg	158.00	0.00	158.00	Check Prices
E7205 IWill P4GB	NewEgg	189.00	0.00	189.00	Check Prices
E7205 MSI Master-L	Googlegear	99.00	0.00	99.00	Check Prices

Remember, check out our RealTime Price Engine to see these prices in real time.

The Abit IS7 got our Gold Editors Choice in the last motherboard roundup. From a performance and price standpoint, it seems very well deserved. Our RealTime Price Engine lists the IS7 around $109 shipped, which makes it the lowest priced i865PE board. The performance tests consistently put the motherboard at or above ASUS’s P4P800, as well. Not too often to we find such a diamond in the rough when it comes to motherboards. If you are in the market for a new Intel board, the IS7 is the way to go.

If the IS7 is not your cup of tea, there are several good performers out there as well. The Albatron PX865 Pro II offers solid performance at a low price, while the ASUS P4P800 Deluxe performs exceptionally with a $145 price tag.

Again we don’t really see much competition from SIS and even other Intel chipsets. The i875P proved to be a fairly lackluster chipset compared to the i865, and Granite Bay is almost worthless. SIS’s 655FX and 648FX have not hit many retail channels and still don’t match up to the i865PE anyway.